Muscle fatigue unrelated to phosphocreatine and pH: An “in vivo” 31‐P NMR spectroscopy study

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Abstract
Metabolic events were followed by 31‐P NMR spectroscopy during mechanical exhaustion of directly stimulated rat gastrocnemius. During mechanical fatigue, phosphocreatine (PCr) and pH first declined but although stimulation continued high values were recovered without mechanical recovery. Total recovery was only observed after cessation of stimulation. Partial mechanical recovery was elicited by lowering stimulation rhythm; it was accompanied by decrease in PCr to a steady–state level without pH alteration. When exhaustive exercise was induced immediately after nonexhaustive exercise, failure of mechanical function occurred without decrease in pH. Major findings were: first, during exhaustive stimulations, the greater the muscle fatigue, and the higher the PCr level at the end of stimulation. Secondly, PCr and force levels did not depend on preceding levels of PCr and pH. Thirdly, acidosis was observed transiently during the first minutes of the first exercise period. These findings strongly suggested that electrical events and/or excitation–contraction (EC) coupling play a crucial role in this type of fatigue.